Having completed construction of Maniachipallam bridge that would serve as a vital link for a plethora of villages on Bargur hills, the rural development department now has its focus set on start of works for re-laying the approach roads on its sides.
Only after completion of the road work will it be possible for Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to operate bus services.
The distance between Tamaraikarai and Kongadai, the farthest point is 25km.
At present, the buses are operated only till Thalakarai.
Beyond that the people have to either walk for several kilometres or depend on two-wheelers to reach their villages. Income generation activities in the villages is almost nil and hence adults have to travel till Anthiyur to find work as labourers.
But, for that they find themselves forced to shell out Rs. 100 towards two-day transport charges for the pickup vans that ply between Kongadai and Anthiyur.
Start of a bus service will spare them of the hefty expenditure towards transport, according to local residents.
Official sources said the process for construction of the approach roads to lengths of a few kilometres on either sides has already been initiated.
It took the rural development department too long to provide a strong road link to Kongadai as the Forest Department had initially expressed reservations over construction of road.
The consent was obtained a year back.
